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Have you ever envisioned a significant event, a vacation/trip or a career change to be going one way and it goes in a completely different direction? What I have found with my journey on my road to recovery after this shoulder surgery is that nothing is predictable and it has all gone differently than how I laid it out in my mind. What the surgeon and physical therapist have told me is “typical” for a patient with this surgery is opposite of what I have experienced, and so I have had to tackle the curveballs and obstacles as they come. …

Another wonderful article by Sally Writes informing you of the many benefits of Tai Chi! I could use a little Tai Chi myself…Thanks Sally! Will give it a try too 🙂 Tai Chi: The Ideal Exercise For The Aging Body Research has proven time and again how beneficial Tai Chi is to the aging body. As people grow older, the body becomes more susceptible to age-related conditions, such as loss of balance, mobility, and flexibility. It is for this reason that health organizations and agencies always encourage seniors to engage in physical activity – to prevent muscles from being stiff and tight. …

Word has been trickling down in my direction that many people who regularly attended my class have been asking, “Where is Dana?” “Is she coming back?” “What’s taking so long?” “Why can’t she just come teach and not DO the class?” “Why isn’t she back at the gym by now?” First, I’d like to apologize for not returning to work yet. Please know I am not being lazy, selfish or insensitive to your requests to have me back at the gym. I’m flattered that the sentiment is that I am missed but the conclusions many people are drawing from my absence are simply …

The Following is an article written by guest author Sally Writes. I hope you enjoy her advice and information! With Jack Frost nipping at your nose, do you find yourself feeling down? If you find it hard to wake up during the winter months, or feel anxious and depressed around the time of snow, you may be suffering from the Winter Blues. As a form of Seasonal Affective Disorder, the winter blues manifests in the form of low mood, depression, and exhaustion that is associated with the lack of sunlight. It’s extremely common across the world, but you don’t …

Honestly… I’m scared. Of what? Well…the more I thought about it, the more I discovered how complicated and layered the answer was. What if the surgery doesn’t work? What if he doesn’t fix all the issues and a new one starts? How much pain am I going to experience? How am I going to function using only my left arm when I’m right-handed? How long until I can exercise a little? If I exercise will I compromise my healing progress? How am I going to manage my weight without being able to move much? (yes that sounds selfish, but it’s …

It was the summer of 1990. I just finished my freshman year at University of Michigan. I moved back into my parent’s house and started my journey towards becoming a professional dancer. I dreamed of being a part of a Chicago dance company that I had grown up watching on the big stages of the city. I loved their choreography, the dancers, the vibe of the company. I auditioned to become a summer student apprentice to train with the members and observe their rehearsals. What an opportunity!!! I was accepted! I was officially on the path I wanted in order …

The Best Exercises for Hip Pain If you experience chronic hip pain, you’re not alone. Problems stemming around the pelvic area are more common a complaint than you might think, especially among older adults and senior citizens. The most common cause of long-term hip pain in adults is osteoarthritis, though discomfort in the region can also be the result of accidents or injuries, bone fractures, infections, and more. Not only will working out once or twice a day help to alleviate painful symptoms in the pelvic area, but it can also reduce the risk of future problems. In a 2013 study published …

I was approached by a woman who wanted to get the word out there to the Senior Population on ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Sally is a former nutritionist and gym instructor. She recently had an experience with her mother and how she could manage her persistent problems with her blood pressure. She found that this issue continued to worsen with age, a common circumstance with this condition. Together with her doctors she devised a simple diet and exercise routine which helped keep her blood pressure under control. She wanted to share her research with the general …

High plank continues this week incorporating moves with your lower body to challenge your core. All these additions are great ways to take a simple move and make it worth your time. The options continue for a couple more weeks. In the meantime, add this to your list of abdominal exercises that rock!

High Plank! Know it? Love it? Do it! Here I demonstrate how to get into the proper form and how to make it create results you are looking for! Be sure to breathe and elongate your body to engage all the muscle groups in your middle and your chest and back will benefit too!